The Power of Internet

The Internet has since inception held the potential to make our vast world more compact … and has, over a short time, moved from being a network of computers to an Internet of Things. Within just 2-3 decades, the Internet has nurtured itself on an ultra-fast pace through several phases, in a steady way such that we don’t even feel the speed anymore. In the modern world today, it’s no longer amusing to hear of a simple home appliance having WiFi functionality – a ‘strange’ concept that was almost totally unheard of in the 90s. In fact, any older technology that is still in demand has its thanks to offer to the Internet, for the opportunity it availed to integrate with it. Think about it; the wrist watch, the Automobile, the Television, the Sound Systems, … have been made SMART simply by handing them the magic wand of the Internet.

Even electricity, our oldest most mysterious and cherished invention, is only made reliable today due to the help and support of the exact same concept behind the Internet. Although, this can be considered a survival strategy, judging from the mere fact that the Internet’s enabling components also rely on electric power. It’s a symbiotic relationship.

The dominion of this space age technology is so great that even in developing parts of the world like Nigeria where electricity supply and distribution is extremely scarce to unacceptable levels of concern, the country ranks as the highest population of Internet users in Africa. Perhaps, Nigeria uses all its electric power to sustain the use of the Internet.

But why is the Internet this much of an influence in modern society? Electricity is also a very strong force but the Internet is just an enigma… especially with the way it can also mysteriously present itself as a wireless conduit for what it conveys – Information. It’s probably an indication on the plausibility of the popular phrase ‘Information is Power’.

Information over the Internet is consumed for different purposes. In my understanding, the Internet is generally used in global economies for 4 main reasons; Educational, Entertainment, Business and Governance. A healthy proportional mix in employing these motives with a great stint of positivity represents the true value of the Internet. Although, the Internet’s potential is definitely not fully utilized anywhere in the world, the main idea is to keep the pareto efficiency at good standing.

Nigeria’s Internet literally lacks good governance and is largely susceptible to the highly variable mood swings of its entertainment aspect, which is currently dominated by today’s social media. To bring stability to the imbalance of the nation’s powerful Internet potential, public and private institutions need to leverage respective positions by utilizing all relevant powers to evenly and positively distribute the influences of the Internet, especially through the veins of Education, Business and Governance, and with respect to the most ailing sectors such as Power and Infrastructure.

Ironically, these applications can be achieved through the same Social Media tool that the nation’s entertainment industry thrives with. Just ask Google ‘how’.

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